--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People are accustomed to thinking of…" description: "\"“People are accustomed to thinking of accounting as dry and boring, a necessary evil used primarily to prepare financial reports and survive audits, bu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/eric-ries-2911_accounting_people-are-accustomed-to-thinking-of-acc_2892469.jpg" --- # People are accustomed to thinking of accounting as dry and… ![“People are accustomed to thinking of accounting as dry and boring, a necessary evil used primarily to prepare financial reports and survive audits, but that is because accounting is something that has become taken for granted.” quote by Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/eric-ries-2911_accounting_people-are-accustomed-to-thinking-of-acc_2892469.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/eric-ries-2911_accounting_people-are-accustomed-to-thinking-of-acc_2892469.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/eric-ries-2911_accounting_people-are-accustomed-to-thinking-of-acc_2892469.jpg) > ““People are accustomed to thinking of accounting as dry and boring, a necessary evil used primarily to prepare financial reports and survive audits, but that is because accounting is something that has become taken for granted.”” [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights that accounting is often undervalued, yet it underpins business decisions and operational health. **In simple terms:** Accounting is essential, not just boring paperwork. Key Takeaway Respect accounting's role. Themes business finance operations strategy culture Mood analytical reflective Type practical thought‑provoking When to use this quote - Startup budgeting - audit preparation - financial reporting - decision making Key Concepts Systems thinking financial literacy process improvement Questions to Reflect On - How can accounting be made more engaging? - What value does good accounting add? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on compliance can stifle creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Necessary evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/necessary-evil/) [Taken for granted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taken-for-granted/) ## Related quotes > [Rock music is, is a necessary evil, like beating my children with penny loafers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/rock-music-is-is-a-necessary-evil-like-beating-my-children-with-penny/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [the fateful equating of power with violence, of the political with government, and of government with a necessary evil has begun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/the-fateful-equating-of-power-with-violence-of-the-political-with/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [Doubtless there are times when controversy becomes a necessary evil. But let us remember that it is an evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-penrhyn-stanley/doubtless-there-are-times-when-controversy-becomes-a-necessary-evil/) [Arthur Penrhyn Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-penrhyn-stanley/) > [“A mature person has the integrity to be alone. And when a mature person gives love, he gives without any strings attached to it:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/a-mature-person-has-the-integrity-to-be-alone-and-when-a-mature/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/government-even-in-its-best-state-is-but-a-necessary-evil-in-its/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best stage, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/society-in-every-state-is-a-blessing-but-government-even-in-its-best/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [There are guys who thrive completely on the action in the ring and see the promotion as a necessary evil, whereas I think it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-foley/there-are-guys-who-thrive-completely-on-the-action-in-the-ring-and/) [Mick Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-foley/) > [When a person, group, or a government is speaking of necessary evils they must first realize that no evil is truly necessary. 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We will not learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/war-may-sometimes-be-a-necessary-evil-but-no-matter-how-necessary-it/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [And now, what has Anarchism to say to all this, this bankruptcy of republicanism, this modern empire that has grown up on the ruins…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltairine-de-cleyre/and-now-what-has-anarchism-to-say-to-all-this-this-bankruptcy-of/) [Voltairine de Cleyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltairine-de-cleyre/) > [“No longer enslaved or made dependent by force of law, the great majority are so by force of poverty; they are still chained to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/no-longer-enslaved-or-made-dependent-by-force-of-law-the-great/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [“Government at its best is a necessary evil; at its worst, an intolerable one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-befumo/government-at-its-best-is-a-necessary-evil-at-its-worst-an/) [Joseph Befumo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-befumo/) ## More by Eric Ries > [The lesson of the MVP is that any additional work beyond what was required to start learning is waste, no matter how important it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/the-lesson-of-the-mvp-is-that-any-additional-work-beyond-what-was/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [HubSpot has used the lean startup method to build a spectacularly successful company. What I particularly love about HubSpot is that they are so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/hubspot-has-used-the-lean-startup-method-to-build-a-spectacularly/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [By the time that product is ready to be distributed widely, it will already have established customers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/by-the-time-that-product-is-ready-to-be-distributed-widely-it-will/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [It was 1999, and we were building a way for college kids to create online profiles for the purpose of sharing... with employers. Oops.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/it-was-1999-and-we-were-building-a-way-for-college-kids-to-create/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [Except in very narrow cases, where there's breakthrough science that needs patent production, worrying about competitors is a waste of time. If you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/except-in-very-narrow-cases-where-there-s-breakthrough-science-that/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [“waiting too long to release can lead to the ultimate waste: making something that nobody wants.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/waiting-too-long-to-release-can-lead-to-the-ultimate-waste-making/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [There's nothing wrong with raising venture capital. Many lean startups are ambitious and are able to deploy large amounts of capital. 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When a product fails…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/a-long-term-reputation-is-only-at-risk-when-companies-engage-in-vocal/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [The minimum viable product is that version of a new product which allows a team to collect the maximum amount of validated learning about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/the-minimum-viable-product-is-that-version-of-a-new-product-which/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [Every startup has a chance to change the world, by bringing not just a new product, but an entirely new institution into existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/every-startup-has-a-chance-to-change-the-world-by-bringing-not-just-a/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [Entrepreneurs can't forecast accurately, because they are trying something fundamentally new. So they will often be laughably behind plan - and on the brink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/entrepreneurs-can-t-forecast-accurately-because-they-are-trying/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [Meritocracy is a good thing. Whenever possibly, people should be judged based on their work and results, not superficial qualities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/meritocracy-is-a-good-thing-whenever-possibly-people-should-be-judged/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [The lean startup method is not about cost, it is about speed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/the-lean-startup-method-is-not-about-cost-it-is-about-speed/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) [Explore all 138 Eric Ries quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) ## More Accounting quotes > [We do not know enough about how the present will lead into the future. We shall never be able to say, "Ha! My perception,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-bateson/we-do-not-know-enough-about-how-the-present-will-lead-into-the-future/) [Gregory Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-bateson/) > [“Outer happiness has Diminishing Marginal Utility; the more it grows, the satisfaction decreases. Resort to inner happiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/outer-happiness-has-diminishing-marginal-utility-the-more-it-grows/) [Vikrmn: CA Vikram Verma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/) > [Regulations for international accounting and funding will have to be examined to identify policies that inadvertently discourage institutional investors from putting their resources into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-angel-gurria/regulations-for-international-accounting-and-funding-will-have-to-be/) [Jose Angel Gurria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-angel-gurria/) > [There is no business like show business. There is also no business like certified public accounting, but that doesn't rhyme as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-shaw-gardner/there-is-no-business-like-show-business-there-is-also-no-business/) Craig Shaw Gardner > [“With great goals, comes the high costs; both fixed and variable. Time is the fixed cost; efforts, variable. Spend passionately.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/with-great-goals-comes-the-high-costs-both-fixed-and-variable-time-is/) [Vikrmn: CA Vikram Verma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/) > [The reaction of weak management to weak operations is often weak accounting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/the-reaction-of-weak-management-to-weak-operations-is-often-weak/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [“Financial statements are my novels, I am a Chartered Accountant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/financial-statements-are-my-novels-i-am-a-chartered-accountant/) [Vikrmn: CA Vikram Verma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/) > [The religious hypothesis, therefore, must be considered only as a particular method of accounting for the visible phenomena of the universe: but no just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/the-religious-hypothesis-therefore-must-be-considered-only-as-a/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [Accounting consequences do not influence our operating or capital-allocation decisions. When acquisition costs are similar, we much prefer to purchase $2 of earnings that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/accounting-consequences-do-not-influence-our-operating-or-capital/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [By their victory, the 3rd, 4th and 5th Marine Divisions and other units of the Fifth Amphibious Corps have made an accounting to their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-w-nimitz/by-their-victory-the-3rd-4th-and-5th-marine-divisions-and-other-units/) [Chester W. Nimitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-w-nimitz/) > [“Invest in self-improvement, be it for learning, be it for earning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/invest-in-self-improvement-be-it-for-learning-be-it-for-earning/) [Vikrmn: CA Vikram Verma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/) > [“In the race to scale a startup, overlooking financial planning is like to building a skyscraper on shaky ground. True growth stems from decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-hishmeh/in-the-race-to-scale-a-startup-overlooking-financial-planning-is-like/) Jason Hishmeh > [One of the things that we're missing from our political dialogue right now is the idea that the United States is a home. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-miller/one-of-the-things-that-we-re-missing-from-our-political-dialogue/) [Stephen Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-miller/) > [There's no business like show business, but there are several businesses like accounting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/there-s-no-business-like-show-business-but-there-are-several/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [“Debit the knowledge; credit the books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/debit-the-knowledge-credit-the-books/) [Vikrmn: CA Vikram Verma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/) Browse all 352 Accounting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“People are accustomed to thinking of accounting as dry and boring, a necessary evil used primarily to prepare financial reports and survive audits, but that is because accounting is something that has become taken for granted.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eric Ries" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/people-are-accustomed-to-thinking-of-accounting-as-dry-and-boring-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accounting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/people-are-accustomed-to-thinking-of-accounting-as-dry-and-boring-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/eric-ries-2911_accounting_people-are-accustomed-to-thinking-of-acc_2892469.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/eric-ries-2911_accounting_people-are-accustomed-to-thinking-of-acc_2892469.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/eric-ries-2911_accounting_people-are-accustomed-to-thinking-of-acc_2892469.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People are accustomed to thinking of accounting as dry and boring, a necessary evil used primarily to…” — Eric Ries", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Eric Ries", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“People are accustomed to thinking of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/people-are-accustomed-to-thinking-of-accounting-as-dry-and-boring-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/people-are-accustomed-to-thinking-of-accounting-as-dry-and-boring-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```